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Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

Description of Substance: Colorless or white crystals with a penetrating, aromatic odor.

LEL: . . 0.6% (10% LEL, 3,600 mg/m3)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 mg/m3

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base an IDLH for camphor. For this draft technical standard, therefore, the chosen IDLH is based on a report by Gronka et al. [1969] concerning the camphor processing and packaging area of a plant. Concentrations of camphor ranging from 3 to 194 mg/m3 produced nose and sinus irritation among workers in this plant [Gronka et al. 1969].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species

Reference

LC50

LCLo

Time

Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)

Derived

Value

Mouse

Nikolaeva 1957

-----

400 mg/m3

3 hr

720 mg/m3 (1.8)

72 mg/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species

Reference

Route

LD50

(mg/kg)

LDLo

(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD

Derived value

Dog

Mouse

Rabbit

Flury and Zernik 1935

Horikawa and Okada 1975

Smith and Margolis 1954

oral

oral

oral

-----

1,310

-----

800

-----

2,000

5,600 mg/m3

9,170 mg/m3

14,000 mg/m3

560 mg/m3

917 mg/m3

1,400 mg/m3

Human data: It has been reported that concentrations during camphor processing and packaging ranged from 33 to 194 mg/m3; workers had no complaints other than slight eye irritation and afternoon drowsiness [Gronka et al. 1969].

Revised IDLH: 200 mg/m3 [Unchanged]

Basis for revised IDLH: Based on chronic inhalation toxicity data in workers [Gronka et al. 1969], the original IDLH for synthetic camphor (200 mg/m3) is not being revised at this time.